Liposomal amphotericin B: Solving the access puzzle

Updated 15 April 2022

An earlier version of this brief contained inaccuracies regarding the countries where L-AmB has been registered and is available at Gilead’s access price.  This has been corrected to reflect the most up-to-date information.

Liposomal amphotericin B (L-AmB) is a lifesaving treatment for several diseases, but ensuring an affordable, sufficient and consistent supply of L-AmB has been an access challenge for decades with very slow progress. L-AmB manufacturer Gilead’s broken promises, generic manufacturers’ doubts about global demand and needs, lack of prioritisation of cryptococcal meningitis funding, limited funding to support civil society organisations’ contributions, and lack of demand generation through country screening, testing and L-AmB adoption by national guidelines are current barriers.

Collaborative work among different stakeholders is essential to deliver Gilead’s access programme promises, increase generic manufacturing, and prioritise countries’ use of L-AmB. Strategic frameworks for cryptococcal meningitis and visceral leishmaniasis can also offer useful tools for countries to help them implement effective programmes and should be endorsed by the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNAIDS.